April 20, 2016
Book contribution to tradition
The author of a new book on Ngati Porou carving hopes it will inspire others to investigate their own iwi traditions.
A Whakapapa of Tradition was launched last night at Auckland’s University’s Waipapa Marae.
Dr Ngarino Ellis of Ngati Porou and Ngapuhi whakapapa says that’s fitting, because the house Tanenuiarangi is part of the Iwirakau tradition she writes about.
Its carver Paki Harrison learned the art from Pine Taiapa, who was trained by Hone Ngatoto, the last of the so called Iwirakau super six who built many of the East Coast houses.
Dr Ellis says the response from a carver working on a houses on the coast illustrates what she was trying to achieve.
" He wanted to do the old stuff which is what I really love and that's what I want, that if a new carving is going to be done, I would like the book to be seen as some kind of information that carvers can use to influence their practice and style as carvers of this Iwirakau tradition," she says.
There will also be a launch of A Whakapapa of Tradition at O Hine Waiapu Marae in Rangitukia on May 7.
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